It’s about more than just knowing the law, we respect and understand the significance of your decisions and we’ll stand by you through the process.
We work collaboratively with our clients and their teams and assist them to plan well, providing them with a clear understanding of their rights and the various processes projects must navigate through. Our extensive experience working with developers, councils, businesses and community groups means we can and do provide strategic insight and innovative, commercially focused solutions to achieve our client’s end goals. Environmental law can be complex and we understand that you need us to know more than just the law, but also to respect and understand the drivers affecting your decisions.
 
 

Environmental Law

The environment and the way we protect, manage and use it is multi-faceted. So too are the laws that apply to it.

Environmental law can be complex, but with the right advice it doesn’t need to be.

Our environmental law specialists will help you navigate the regulatory framework to achieve your desired outcomes.

Local Government and Regulation

For all but one year of Govett Quilliam's 130 year existence, we have provided legal services to local authorities.

The experience we have gained has given GQ a unique and specialised knowledge of local government law.


 

Resource Management

Our resource management specialists have significant experience and expertise advising and representing clients in all aspects of resource management law.

We advise a variety of clients, including property developers, community groups, individuals and local authorities on all Resource Management Act 1991 processes, from consent applications and plan changes, through to representing clients in mediation, Council hearings and Environment Court appeals, and Board of Inquiry processes.

NPDC’s award winning e-plan – a true professional partnership. We made the decision to modernise our district plan, which meant a complete rebuild. Therefore getting front end legal input that understood our vision from the outset was crucial. Lauren and GQ have worked alongside us all the way, helping us to develop the vision, the strategic framework, structure, style and content of our plan. What stood out for me was their collaborative approach and their desire to understand our vision and objective to embrace the technological platform we were building. This has helped us deliver a plan that is not just digital, but ultimately more accessible to the community and one that translates their aspirations into clear and simple planning provisions

Liam Hodgetts - Group Manager Strategy, NPDC

Lauren responded promptly to our request and provided strong support throughout the process we engaged her for. Beyond factual and legal advice, she also offered valuable strategic advice. We felt she always had our best interests in mind, and the result was a positive outcome to the situation we found ourselves in.

Michael Braggins - Managing Director, Clelands Construction

Lauren and her team skillfully guided us through the preparation of the material required for the Notified Marine and Discharge Consent processes. They assisted with the preparation of evidence, managed conferencing with experts, submitters and the EPA and provided guidance, leadership and oversight for the Board of Inquiry hearing process. Lauren’s expertise with the EEZ Act, her familiarity with the processes to be undertaken and her skills and experience as legal counsel in a hearing process ensured that Tamarind achieved the outcome that we had aimed for. We would have no hesitation in engaging Lauren and her team again in the future.

Jason Peacock - Country Manager NZ, Tamarind Resources

Our Environment and Planning Specialists

Lauren Wallace

Partner

Rebecca Eaton

Senior Associate

Heather Froude

Senior Associate

Bayley Sprott

Lawyer

Robyn Allen-Raven

Legal Support

Get in touch

Articles

Voluntary administrative regime (Companies Act)

25 January 2023

Court demonstrates flexibility in relation to voluntary administration regime

Read more ›
Companies (Directors Duties) Amendment Bill

25 January 2023

Proposed Amendment to Directors' Duties

Read more ›

22 December 2022

Employment in a “gig” economy – independent contractors and employees

Read more ›

Examples of our work

NPDC

New Plymouth District Council as part of their e-Plan Making Team on the development of the Council’s award winning draft New Plymouth District Plan. The proposed New Plymouth District Plan is the first plan in New Zealand to be drafted in an e-plan format.

First Gas

First Gas in relation to the development of model network utilities provisions for District and Regional Plans with a national working group composed of a broad range of network utility operators, including electricity generation and distribution, roading, rail, telecommunications, gas and water services providers.

Fonterra

Fonterra Co-operative Group in relation to the successful renewal of discharge and water take consents at Fonterra’s Whareroa site.

Taranaki Iwi

Te Kahui O Taranaki Trust in relation to the development of Coastal Development Design Guidelines – Tiaki Tangaroa ki Uta Tangaroa ki Tai in the South Taranaki District Council.

Egmont Refuse and Recycling Limited

Egmont Refuse and Recycling Limited in relation to a non-complying consent application to relocate and expand its industrial recycling facility in Hawera and its subsequent successful Environment Court appeal.

Links Coastal Development Limited

Links Coastal Development Limited in relation to the successful application for subdivision consent to allow for the subdivision of the proposed Oceanside development, including a subsequent Environment Court appeal regarding the conditions of consent.

Tamarind Taranaki Limited

Tamarind Taranaki Limited in relation to the successful applications for marine consent and marine discharge consent for the drilling of up to five sidetrack development wells and discharges from a drilling rig offshore in the Tui field. These proceedings were the first to be heard by a Board of Inquiry following the amendments to the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 in 2017. 

Taranaki Regional Council

Taranaki Regional Council in relation to an Environment Court appeal on the proposed South Taranaki District Plan concerning air discharges from oil and gas facilities.